The Nature of this LifeAnd a Believer’s perspective in it

The ḥadīth in this article are from al-Albānī’s Silsilah al-Aḥādīth al-Ṣaḥīḥah collection. They are among several ḥadīth on the subject matter of Raqāiq, or heart-softening narrations. All ḥadīth here are considered authentic or reliable (or Ḥasan, Marfū’ etc.) by al-Albānī.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

ḤADĪTH 1: “Oh Muhammad, live how you like for you will certainly die.”
ḤADĪTH 2: “Do you know what a bankrupt person is?”
ḤADĪTH 3: “Beware of oppression because oppression will be darkness on the Day of Resurrection.”
ḤADĪTH 4: “Construct between yourself and the fire a barrier even with half a date.”
ḤADĪTH 5: “When Allah wants good for a servant, He hastens his punishment in this life.”
ḤADĪTH 6: “When Allah wants good for a servant, He makes others pleased with him.”
ḤADĪTH 7: “If you see that Allah provides for a servant in this life from what he likes because of his sins, it is only Istidrāj.”
ḤADĪTH 8: “(It will be) when you see people being unconcerned about their…”
ḤADĪTH 9: “Whenever you make a sin, follow it up with a good deed which will erase it.”
ḤADĪTH 10: “Four things, if they are within you then nothing you missed in life will harm you…”
ḤADĪTH 11: “Guarantee me six things and I will guarantee you Paradise…”
ḤADĪTH 12: “Should I tell you who the best among you are?.”
ḤADĪTH 13: “Oh Allah, give me life as a poor person, give me death as a poor person…”
ḤADĪTH 14: “Allah (تبارك وتعالى) tests his worshipper with what He has given him.”
ḤADĪTH 15: “Allah says, ‘Oh son of Adam, free your time for My worship…’”
ḤADĪTH 16: “One of the first things for which a worshipper will be called to account…”
ḤADĪTH 17: “Some of the worst people of my nation are those who are nourished with all kinds of blessings…”
ḤADĪTH 18: “There are certainly some people who act as keys to good, locks to evil….”
ḤADĪTH 19: “The only true good is the good of the hereafter.”
ḤADĪTH 20: “Only someone who has been forgiven may truly relax.”
ḤADĪTH 21: “My brothers, prepare yourselves for a day like today.”
ḤADĪTH 22: “There are three things which destroy and three things which save.”
ḤADĪTH 23: “Unity is a mercy, and division is a punishment.”
ḤADĪTH 24: “The sweetness of this life becomes bitterness in the hereafter…”
ḤADĪTH 25: Allah (تعالى) said, “Oh son of Adam, stand before Me, I will walk to you.”
ḤADĪTH 26: Allah (عزّ وجلّ) said, “My servant, I am as you think of Me…”
ḤADĪTH 27: Allah (عزّ وجلّ) said, “By my honor, I do not combine for My servant two times of safety…”
ḤADĪTH 28: The prophet (صلّى الله عليه و سلّم) used to accompany the weak Muslims.
ḤADĪTH 29: “For (kindness to) anything with a warm liver (i.e. any living creature), there is a reward.”
ḤADĪTH 30: “If you were to commit sins so much that your sins reached the sky but then you repented…”
ḤADĪTH 31: “Even if the son of Adam were to flee from his sustenance like he flees from death…”
ḤADĪTH 32: “If a man were to be dragged on his face for something in the pleasure of Allah…”
ḤADĪTH 33: “If worshippers did not commit sins, Allah (عزّ وجلّ) would create another creation that would commit sins…”
ḤADĪTH 34: “If you were to reply on Allah with the reliance He deserves, He would provide for you…”
ḤADĪTH 35: “Each of you should have a heart that is thankful, a tongue that mentions (Allah)…”
ḤADĪTH 36: “What do I have to do with this life? What am I regarding this life?”
ḤADĪTH 37: “Whoever would like to know what Allah has for him…” .
ḤADĪTH 38: “Whoever pleases Allah by angering people, Allah will suffice him from people.”
ḤADĪTH 39: “Anyone of you who wakes up safe with his family, healthy in his body…”
ḤADĪTH 40: “Whoever was two-faced in this life will have, on the Day of Resurrection, two tongues of fire.”
ḤADĪTH 41: “Whoever makes the hereafter his concern, Allah will place his richness in his heart.”
ḤADĪTH 42: “Be cautious of the prohibited things and you will be the most worshipping of people.”
ḤADĪTH 43: “All people are the children of Adam, and Adam was from dirt.” .
ḤADĪTH 44: “I swear by the One in whose hand is my soul, this worldly life is more insignificant…”
ḤADĪTH 45: “Allah does not cease to cultivate within this religion those He uses for his obedience.”

Jibrīl came to me and said, “Oh Muhammad, live how you like for you will certainly die. Love whom you like for you will certainly leave him. Do as you like for you will certainly be compensated for it. And know that the dignity of a believer is his standing at night (in prayer), and his honor is his managing himself without need of other people.”

The bankrupt person from my nation is the one who will come on the Day of Resurrection with prayer, fasting, and charity. But he had insulted this person, slandered that person, cheated this person out of money, spilled this person’s blood, and hit that person. Each of these people (he harmed) will then be given some of his good deeds. And if his good deeds run out before settling his affairs, their sins will be taken and put upon the man, then he will be thrown in the fire.

Beware of oppression because oppression will become darkness on the Day of Resurrection. And beware of stinginess because stinginess destroyed those who came before you. It led them to shed each other’s blood and declare each other’s sanctity permissible to violate.

Construct between yourself and the fire a barrier even with half a date (given in charity).

[al-Albānī’s Silsilah al-Aḥādīth al-Ṣaḥīḥah No. 897]

[5] Ibn al-‘Uthaymīn, in Muṣṭalaḥ al-Ḥadīth, explained a marfū’ ḥadīth as one that is either raised to the status of being directly attributed to the prophet (صلّى الله عليه و سلّم) as his explicit statement, action, approval, or as a physical or character description, or it is determined for a number of reasons that the statement carries the ruling of being attributed to the prophet ( صلّى الله عليه وسلّم)

When Allah wants good for a servant, He hastens his punishment (for his sins) in this life. And if Allah wants bad for a servant, he preserves his sins for him until he meets Him on the Day of Resurrection.

[al-Albānī’s Silsilah al-Aḥādīth al-Ṣaḥīḥah No. 1220]

ḤADĪTH 6

‘Amr Ibn al-Ḥamaq (رضي الله عنه) reported in a marfū’ ḥadīth:

إِذَا أَرَادَ اللَّهُ بعَبْدٍ خَيْرًا عَسَّلَهُ

When Allah wants good for a servant, He makes others pleased with him. It was asked, “And what is this pleasing respect others have for him, messenger of Allah?” He answered:

So when they forgot what they had been reminded about, We opened to them the doors of every (good) thing until, when they rejoiced in that which they were given, We seized them suddenly, and they were (then) in despair.

Four things, if they are within you then nothing you missed in life will harm you: preserving trustworthiness, honest speech, good manners, and caution regarding food (i.e., whether it is from permissible means or not).

Guarantee me six things and I will guarantee you Paradise: If anyone of you speaks, let him not lie; if he is entrusted with something, let him not betray that trust; if he promises, let him not break his promise; lower your gaze, restrain your hands, and safeguard your private parts.

Allah (تبارك وتعالى) tests his worshipper with what He has given him. So whoever is pleased with what Allah (عزّ وجلّ) has apportioned for him, Allah blesses and increases it for him. And whoever is displeased, it is not blessed for him.

Allah says, “Oh son of Adam, free your time for My worship and I will fill your chest with sufficiency and I will prevent your poverty. But if you do not, I will fill your hands with occupation, and I will not prevent your poverty.”

There are certainly some people who act as keys (opening the doors) to good, locks to evil. And there are others among people who are keys to evil, locks to good. So Ṭūbá (a tree in Paradise, or “success”) is for those for whom Allah facilitates their hands to act as keys to goodness, and let those beware for whom Allah facilitates their hands to act as keys to evil.

[al-Albānī’s Silsilah al-Aḥādīth al-Ṣaḥīḥah No. 1332]

ḤADĪTH 19

The messenger of Allah (صلّى الله عليه و سلّم) was once brought some barley bread that had turned oily and rancid yet he still ate from it. He then said:

إِنَّمَا الخَيْرُ خَيْرُ الآخِرَةِ

The only true good is the good of the hereafter.

[al-Albānī’s Silsilah al-Aḥādīth al-Ṣaḥīḥah No. 1102]

ḤADĪTH 20

The prophet (صلّى الله عليه و سلّم) once said in a mursal ḥadīth:

إِنَّمَا يَسْتَرِيْحُ مَنْ غُفِرَ لَهُ

Only someone who has been forgiven may truly relax.

[al-Albānī’s Silsilah al-Aḥādīth al-Ṣaḥīḥah No. 1710]

ḤADĪTH 21

al-Barā Ibn Āzib said: We were once with the messenger of Allah (صلّى الله عليه و سلّم) when he saw a gathering of people. He asked, “What have they gathered for?” to which someone replied, “They are digging a grave.” Allah’s messenger then hurried with his companions to the grave and then kneeled down beside it. Those around him faced him to see what he was going to do. He began crying until his tears moistened the ground. He then turned to us and said:

There are three things which destroy and three things which save. The three destructive things are: stinginess that is obeyed, desires that are followed, and a person being too amazed with himself. The three things which save: fearing Allah in both private and in open, moderation in both poverty and richness, and fairness when both angry and happy.

الجَمَاعَةُ رَحْمَةٌ ، وَالفِرْقَةُ عَذَابٌ

Unity is a mercy, and division is a punishment.

[al-Albānī’s Silsilah al-Aḥādīth al-Ṣaḥīḥah No. 67]

ḤADĪTH 24

Abū Mālik al-Asha’rī (رضي الله عنه) said when death was upon him: Oh gathering of the al- Asha’rī family, let those present convey this to those who are absent. I heard the messenger of Allah (صلّى الله عليه و سلّم) saying:

Allah (عزّ وجلّ) said, “By my honor, I do not combine for My servant two times of safety and two times of fear. If he feels safe from Me in this life, I will make him fear Me the day on which I gather My servants. And if he fears Me in this life, I will make him feel safe the day on which I gather My servants.”

[al-Albānī’s Silsilah al-Aḥādīth al-Ṣaḥīḥah No. 742]

ḤADĪTH 28

Abū Umāmah Ibn Sahl Ibn Ḥanīf (رضي الله عنه) reported from his father in a marfū’ narration that the prophet (صلّى الله عليه و سلّم) used to accompany the weak Muslims. He would visit them, see them when they become sick, and attend their funerals.

[al-Albānī’s Silsilah al-Aḥādīth al-Ṣaḥīḥah No. 2112]

ḤADĪTH 29

Sarāqah said: I once came upon Allah’s messenger (صلّى الله عليه و سلّم) at al-Ja’rānah. I was not sure what to ask him about, so I said, “Oh messenger of Allah, sometimes I fill my watering hole (e.g. trough, etc.), waiting for my flock to return to me. But then other animals would come and drink from it. So is there a reward in that?” The messenger of Allah (صلّى الله عليه و سلّم) answered:

فِي كُلِّ ذَاتِ كَبدٍ حَرَّى أَجْرٌ

For (kindness to) anything with a warm liver (i.e. any living creature), there is a reward.

Each of you should have a heart that is thankful, a tongue that mentions (Allah), and a righteous wife that helps him regarding the affairs of the hereafter.

[al-Albānī’s Silsilah al-Aḥādīth al-Ṣaḥīḥah No. 2176]

ḤADĪTH 36

‘Abdullah Ibn Mas’ūd (رضي الله عنه) said that once Allah’s messenger ( ( صلّى الله عليه وسلّم slept on a straw mat which left marks on his side. When he woke up, he began rubbing his side and asked, “Messenger of Allah, would you allow us to spread something (softer) over your straw mat?” He (صلّى الله عليه و سلّم) answered:

Whoever makes the hereafter his (main) concern, Allah will place his richness in his heart, organize his affairs, and the worldly life will come to him without seeking it. But whoever makes this life his concern, Allah will place his poverty before his eyes, scatter his affairs, and nothing of the worldly life will come to him except what has already been destined for him.

Be cautious of the prohibited things and you will be the most worshipping of people. Be content with what Allah has destined for you and you will be the richest of people. Behave well toward your neighbor and you will be a true believer. Love for people what you love for yourself and you will be a Muslim. And do not laugh excessively, for excessive laughter kills the heart.

[al-Albānī’s Silsilah al-Aḥādīth al-Ṣaḥīḥah No. 930]

ḤADĪTH 43

Abū Hurayrah (رضي الله عنه) reported in a marfū’ ḥadīth:

النَّاسُ وَلَدُ آدمَ ، وَآدَمُ مِنْ تُرَابٍ

All people are the children of Adam, and Adam was from dirt.

[al-Albānī’s Silsilah al-Aḥādīth al-Ṣaḥīḥah No. 1009]

ḤADĪTH 44

Ibn ‘Abbās (رضي الله عنه) said that once the messenger of Allah (صلّى الله عليه و سلّم) passed by a dead sheep that had been left, discarded by its owner. He said:

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